Koo Ja-yeol of the Democratic Party opened a citizen participation campaign office ahead of the June 3 local elections.
On the afternoon of the 26th, Koo held an opening ceremony for the \"Citizen Participation Camp\" at CineCity Tower in Musil-dong, Wonju, formally launching his mayoral campaign.
Attendees included Woo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party’s candidate for Gangwon governor; lawmakers Song Ki-heon (representing Wonju Eul) and Baek Seung-ah (party list); Yeo Jun-seong, chair of the Democratic Party’s Wonju Gap regional committee; and former Gangwon governors Choi Moon-soon and Lee Kwang-jae.
Notably, former Wonju Mayor Won Chang-mook and Wonju City Council Vice Chair Kwak Moon-geun also attended and voiced their support for Koo.
At one point during the ceremony, former Governor Choi Moon-soon and Vice Chair Kwak Moon-geun staged a physical display of support by lifting Koo onto their backs.
The campaign named the following people as co-chairs of Koo Ja-yeol’s citizen participation camp: △ Won Chang-mook, former Wonju mayor △ Kwak Do-young, former chair of the Gangwon Provincial Council △ Kim Yong-seong, former vice chair of the Democratic Party’s Gangwon chapter △ Yoon Han-jung, former president of the Daesung Middle and High School alumni association △ Park Chun-sik, former secretary-general of the Wonju High School alumni association △ Jang Ok-soo, former president of the Sangji Girls’ High School alumni association △ Kim Jae-joong, vice chair of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Gangwon regional headquarters and chair of the Wonju branch △ Kim Hye-jong, governor of Lions Clubs International Gangwon district.
Former governors Choi Moon-soon and Lee Kwang-jae, who appeared in support of Koo, said, \"With Woo Sang-ho and Koo Ja-yeol as a unified team, Gangwon will not remain on the margins; it will develop,\" adding, \"Koo is the candidate to lead Wonju as a young, vibrant regional hub of Gangwon.\"
Lawmakers Song Ki-heon and Baek Seung-ah, along with regional committee chair Yeo Jun-seong, said Wonju has been at odds with its citizens over the past four years and must move forward. \"Let’s unite as one team behind the candidate citizens want—Koo Ja-yeol,\" they urged.
Former Mayor Won Chang-mook and Vice Chair Kwak Moon-geun emphasized, \"We will win as one team with the weighty, credible candidate Koo Ja-yeol.\"
In his congratulatory remarks, Woo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party’s candidate for Gangwon governor, said, \"Koo has proven his administrative capability through service as a Gangwon assemblyman and as chief of staff to the governor,\" and pledged, \"Because Gangwon requires substantial central government support, I—entrusted by the president—will take responsibility and secure full backing.\"
That day, Koo reiterated his signature platform, the \"Wonju Grand Transformation T5\" vision.
Opening with a call to \"usher in an era of citizen sovereignty,\" he told supporters, \"Wonju is an open-hearted city, and the mayor must apply a philosophy of inclusion to governance. Based on Wonju’s spirit of resistance and civic democracy, I will assemble sound policies to serve our citizens.\"
At the ceremony, he outlined the core pledge known as the \"T5 Wonju Future Plan.\"
T5 comprises △ T1: Half-Price Wonju — halve living costs △ T2: Advanced Wonju — develop medical AI industries and redevelop idle land △ T3: Vibrant Wonju — create jobs for youth, women, and mid-career workers △ T4: Attractive Wonju — expand cultural rights and raise quality of life △ T5: Secure Wonju — strengthen public healthcare, welfare, and safety.
Campaigning under the slogan \"From now on, real Wonju — Open it, Koo Ja-yeol,\" Koo graduated from Myeongryun Elementary School, Wonju Middle School, and Wonju High School.
He earned a master’s degree in political science from Yonsei University’s graduate school and completed doctoral coursework in political science and diplomacy at Kangwon National University.
Separately, Koo was recently diagnosed with a vitreous hemorrhage and a retinal tear. Following medical advice, he is scheduled to undergo a minor surgical procedure on the 28th.
